Firm that received subsidies announces layoffs

Global manufacturer Air Products, which opened a $57 million facility in northeast Manatee County in early 2014, has laid off 30 employees.

Allentown, Pa.-based Air Products spokesman Art George says the job losses stems from a slow down in the company's core industry, liquefied natural gas. “We're disappointed that we had to take this action,” George says in an interview with the Business Observer. “But we believe there will be a time when we can hire people again.”

The facility had about 180 employees at the end of May. Anthony Gagliano, business and economic development director at CareerSource Suncoast, a workforce training nonprofit, has worked with the company on recruiting and training employees for several years and was surprised with the layoffs. “They were still hiring as of a month ago,” says Gagliano. “We will help in anyway we can” with finding work for laid off employees.